EPA allows response to Hulhidhoo, Anbara environmental damages
EPA said that what was observed during the inspection and its report can be shared with others only after the companies are allowed to respond to the claims.
By
Aminath Shifleen
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said on Tuesday that it has asked the companies running the Vaavu atoll islands; Anbara for resort development and Hulhidhoo for agriculture, to respond to environmental violations.
In 2017, a company called Aarah Investment was given the island Hulhidhoo in lease for farming, but the work has not been carried out to date, leading to anger and protests by some residents of the atoll. According to the residents of the atoll, any farming work is not going on there and the company that has rented out the island is destroying the natural scape of the area.
Late last month, the EPA travelled to Hulhidhoo and Anbara to investigate the claims.
The V. Atoll Council has requested the EPA to share their inspection reports after examining the islands. In response, the EPA said in a letter to the atoll council:
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In Hulhidhoo and Anbara, it was found that certain activities were carried out in violation of the EIA approved by the agency
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Companies have been given an opportunity to respond; that is, the manner in which such situations are to be dealt with
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What was observed during the inspection and its report can be shared with others only after the companies are allowed to respond to the claims
The letter did not mention any damage caused to the islands.
The atoll council had earlier highlighted the damages caused to Hulhidhoo:
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A barge had been landed atop the most beautiful part of the island’s reef, after having cut off the reef area over two years ago
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Land reclamation had been done after filling the island’s natural saltwater lake, and the jetty was built in a location that was not advised by the EIA.
When EPA announced they were visiting the island to make a damage assessment,, the company that leased the island had removed the barge.
The government had released Hulhidhoo for a period of 21 years for farming. However, when asked about the reason for non-commencement of work at the island so far, the government said it has given the private company more time to develop the island in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the year-long deadline expired in January.
Vaavu atoll's residents believe that the agreement to lease Hulhidhoo has been scrapped. They say this is because an island that has been leased for farming has tourism components. However, defending it, Agriculture Minister Hussain Rasheed Hassan said the agreement remained valid and he was not cancelling it.
